Nicole Kidman was in running for Mamma Mia! lead

Nicole Kidman lost out on the chance to star in movie musical Mamma Mia! after Meryl Streep wrote a letter to producers and snagged the role, according to Abba musician Bjorn Ulvaeus.

The Sophie's Choice actress reached out to the makers of the 2008 film after she saw the stage production, which features the Swedish band's songs, and the personal note she sent them helped her snatch the part of Donna Carmichael from Kidman.

Ulvaeus tells Britain's Daily Express that the Moulin Rouge! star was in the running for the lead, but adds, "Then we received a handwritten letter from Meryl Streep saying how much she had enjoyed the show and we realized that was the age group we should be casting from. And she said yes straight away and that was the 'open sesame' (beginning moment) for everything."

The Hollywood version of Mamma Mia! proved a huge hit at the box office, raking in more than $609 million globally.